title: Adult hearing screening: follow-up and outcomes1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To screen hearing and evaluate outcomes in community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three thousand and twenty-five adults responded to an invitation to be screened by questionnaire, otoscopy, and pure-tone audiometry. Pure-tone average (PTA) >35 dB HL in the worse ear, unilateral hearing loss, or otoscopic findings were the criteria for referral for services. A questionnaire related to compliance with referral recommendations was completed by telephone interview for 160 randomly selected participants after 1-2 years from referral.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The referral rate for audiologic/hearing aid evaluation was 46%, and referral for cerumen removal/medical evaluation was 17%. Of the people referred for audiologic/hearing aid evaluation, 18% tried a hearing aid; 2 years later, 11% were using a hearing aid. Screening recommendations affected participants' decision to seek help. Study participants stated that the screening was helpful, it should be offered to everybody, and they would participate in future screenings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although adult hearing screening offered timely identification of hearing loss for adults seeking help, follow-up with hearing aid treatment was low.
authors.affiliation: European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. c.thodi@euc.ac.cy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thodi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stenfelt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pronk
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Anteunis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schirkonyer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grandori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D038781:Otoscopy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: aging; aural rehabilitation; hearing loss; outcomes; screening